Rivera Gets Life Term In Attack On Springs Girl

Michael Thomas Rivera, accused of slaying Staci Jazvac, was sentenced Thursday to life in prison for abducting and trying to kill another 11-year- old girl.

Rivera, 24, was convicted Nov. 6 of attempted first-degree murder, kidnapping, aggravated child abuse and aggravated battery in the attack on a Coral Springs girl. State sentencing guidelines called for a penalty of 17 to 22 years in prison.

``I believe this man has committed crimes many times in the past, and I believe he has resisted many attempts at rehabilitation,`` Ferris said. ``I don`t think society should permit him to visit this conduct on anyone else.``

Rivera declined to speak on his own behalf during the proceedings.

Afterwards, however, the North Lauderdale resident criticized the justice system and its treatment of him. The outburst marked Rivera`s first public statements since his arrest Feb. 13.

``I`m a victim of political play,`` Rivera stated. ``I`ve been treated unfairly through the whole trial. And the choo-choo keeps running in Broward County.``

Rivera`s court-appointed lawyer vowed an appeal. Attorney Edward Malavenda said his client`s prior convictions did not warrant such a harsh punishment.

``As far as I`m concerned, this case is not over yet,`` Malavenda said. ``But right now, we have bigger problems to worry about -- and that`s the Jazvac case.``

Rivera is scheduled to go to trial Jan. 26 on a charge of first-degree murder in the death of Jazvac. Her body was found in a field in southwestern Coral Springs on Feb. 14, 15 days after she disappeared from her Lauderdale Lakes home.

When police questioned Rivera on Feb. 13 about Jazvac`s disappearence, they said he admitted attacking the Coral Springs girl.

According to his confession, Rivera was at a Coral Springs condominium on July 10, 1985, when he saw a young girl and was overwhelmed with a desire to molest her.

He grabbed her from behind, dragged her into some woods and choked her into unconsciousness.

The attack was the latest incident in what Lazarus called Rivera`s ``escalating pattern of criminal activity.``

He said that in 1979 Rivera was convicted three times as a juvenile of indecent exposure and once of battery on a law enforcement officer. In October 1980, Rivera was convicted of burglary with assault. He committed indecent assault on a 12-year-old eight days later, the prosecutor said.

Rivera entered Dr. Seth Krieger`s Out-Patient Program for Sex Offenders in November 1980. When he dropped out of the program, Rivera was imprisoned from January 1982 to July 1984.

One year later, he committed the offense for which he was sentenced Thursday to life in prison.